Two of the country’s oldest buildings are looking in mint condition once again after some TLC.

The Kerikeri Stone Store has been completely reroofed with cedar shingles, and the exterior of neighbouring Kemp House – New Zealand’s oldest building – repaired and repainted.

The work was carried out over May to July – the quietest time of the year for visitation for the two iconic heritage buildings – and cost approximately $290,000.

“We’re very pleased with the way the project has gone. It’s great to see two of our most important historic buildings now looking in such good form,” says NZ Historic Places Trust Project Supervisor Tony Pickard.

The Stone Store and Kemp House, part of the historic Kerikeri Mission Station in the Bay of Islands, are just two of the properties cared for by the NZHPT.  In a programme of works which has taken over a year to plan, and several months to complete, essential repairs and maintenance has been carried out to both buildings, with the final elements of work being finished now as the scaffolding is lowered in stages.

The heritage significance of the buildings meant that work had to be carried out with particular care, and with great attention to detail.

As well as being reroofed, investigations and necessary repairs to gutters, windows, stonework and glazing have been carried out on the Stone Store. Ageing pipework was replaced between the two buildings and the fire protection, electrical safety and security systems have also been upgraded.

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